After a brief respite, the next round of rain began falling across Santa Barbara County Sunday afternoon, bringing moderate to heavy precipitation, gusty winds, cooler temperatures, and a slight chance of thunderstorms.

As of 3:45 p.m., evacuation warnings remained in effect for some areas of the county, but no evacuation orders had been issued. 

The forecasts calling for moderate to heavy rain also have led the National Weather Service to issue a number of watches and warnings. 

While totals may not reach amounts brought by earlier systems this season, the saturated ground means problematic flooding may be possible, according to Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

“This rain from this storm is not going to have anywhere to go really,” Thompson said, adding that it brings significant flooding risks, especially for low-lying areas. 

“It could potentially be messy,” he added. 

The most intensive rainfall for Santa Barbara County will occur Sunday night into Monday, he said, but rain will continue through Wednesday morning. 

A flood watch has been issued through Wednesday morning as the system could bring 2-5 inches of rain to many areas, and 4-8 inches in the foothills and mountains with isolated totals of 10 inches in the Santa Ynez Mountains. 

Peak rainfall rates of one-half to 1 inch per hour are possible, with locally higher rates if any thunderstorms develop. 

“These rainfall totals and rates will have the potential to cause flooding and debris flows, including landslides,” according to the flood watch.

By Sunday night, the flood advisory had been issued through 7:30 a.m. Monday for Santa Barbara County. As of 8:20 p.m. rainfall rates were increasing to one-half inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Authorities Sunday reported several closures including Maria Ignacio Bike Path and San Rossano Drive at Padova Drive in Goleta along with Cathedral Oak Road between Winchester Canyon and Calle Real and the Elmwood Mesa Open Space area and parking lot.

Additionally, Highway 1 between Solomon and Black roads on the western side of the Santa Maria Valley closed due to flooding.

At approximately 8 p.m. Sunday, drivers of four vehicles also had flat tires due to rocks in the roadway on Highway 154 near the White Lotus Yoga Foundation facility, according to California Highway Patrol emergency dispatch reports.

The city of Santa Barbara has activated is emergency storm parking program providing complimentary areas in a public lot for vehicles that register, with details available here.

The evacuation warnings encompass the following areas: 

• Properties along waterways associated with the Thomas, Cave and Alisal burn areas. 
• Properties in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek, from Stanwood Drive down to parts of Ninos Drive, in the city of Santa Barbara.
• Properties in the vicinity of Mission Creek, from Cota Street down to Highway 101 and between Chapala and Castillo streets, in the city of Santa Barbara

For information about the evacuation warnings, go to the ReadySBC.org website. 

A High-Wind Warning will remain in effect for Santa Barbara County’s interior mountains including Figueroa Mountain and San Rafael Mountain, from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday. 

South winds of 25 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, are expected in many areas. 

Additionally, a Wind Advisory has been issued for southeastern and southwestern coastal areas including the Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Gaviota Coast and Jalama Beach.

The advisory warns of southeast winds 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, between 10 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday. 

Another advisory covers the Santa Ynez Mountains including San Marcos Pass and Montecito Hills with southeast winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph possible.

A coastal flood advisory and a high surf advisory also remain in effect through Tuesday. 

The advisory warns of large breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet with local sets to 20 feet along with dangerous rip currents.

The high surf will occur Monday through Monday night on west- and southwest-facing beaches.  

The new round of rain follows a system that delivered more precipitation to the area starting Saturday afternoon. 

As of Sunday morning, the 24-hour rainfall totals from the system included 0.41 in Santa Maria, 0.37 in Lompoc, 0.14 in Santa Barbara, 0.32 in Buellton, and 0.09 in Carpinteria, according to the tally from the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District.

Click here for the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.